Working Moms Refuge | Single Moms

Family
Career
Art of Juggling
Single Moms
Dad's Voice
News
Health
Bookshelf
Recipes
Sports Mom

Archives
Contact Us

Discussion Lists
Wisdom of Mothers
Resources

Sound of Silence

by Susan Farrell

In the every day life of a single mom, things get rather hectic. Not only that, but downright noisy. From the moment I'm jolted awake by my alarm clock and the radio kicks on to hear the weather and traffic reports, to the phones and rushing around of the office, noise surrounds me, distracts me, and keeps me from being able to relax.

So I've learned to truly appreciate and value the sound of silence.

I noticed it's calming effect upon me the other day. It had been a rather hectic and rushed day already and I was dragging myself out of the office exhausted to head home to what I knew would also be only more chaos. As I climbed into my car, I paused to relax just for a moment before starting the engine. The silence enveloped me and I let out a deep sigh, releasing tension and lavishing in the peaceful moment surrounding me. It was so nice, I had to force myself to break the moment in order to head home.

For single moms, these moments are few and far between. But de-stressing is an absolute must to be able to avoid burnout and to keep healthy mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. The sound of silence can be excellent therapy to lessen the stress in your life.

But how do you find time to enjoy such a luxury? Here are my suggestions to get you started:

Commute time:
If you commute to and from work, keep the windows closed and keep the radio off. Keep blowers on low. It is during this time that my nerves are calmed and I am able to think a little more clearly and focus much better.

Bath time:
Find one night a week — more often if possible--that you can just retreat for at least 30 minutes to the bathroom by yourself. A hot bath or shower, and no radio or interruptions allowed by the kids or phone will work wonders. Just release all the tensions and focus on relaxing. Add some aromatherapy candles and you're nothing short of spoiling yourself.

Dinner/mealtime:
A tradition of days bygone it seems: quiet and uninterrupted mealtimes as a family. Less distraction and noise can be very valuable not only to us but to our children. It allows us to focus on each other, really communicate and purely enjoy the meal and each other's company.

After dinner/homework time:
When we turn off the TV and radio, all sit down to do homework or read, there is a quiet, effective calm about the house that cannot be described, just experienced.

I'm sure you can find more time of your own that works for your household and life, but these are just a few suggested times I've grown to love.

Cherish the moment. Enjoy and appreciate the wonderful sound of silence.

Susan Farrell is the single mother of two teenagers. Her many hobbies include writing, reading, gardening, cooking, traveling and camping, and trying new things with her children. Her motto: "Live, love, laugh." Life's just too short not to.